Nvidia 3D Vision Wireless Glasses Kit (2011) Review

Table of Contents

Introduction

Since the initial release of 3D Vision hardware in early 2009, Nvidia's 3D Vision technology has evolved from being simply a way to enhance the PC-gaming experience into a full-blown 3D-content ecosystem. We were skeptical, but it happened: With expanded hardware support and all kinds of new varieties of 3D media to enjoy, 3D Vision has matured from a gadget for hard-core gaming enthusiasts into a full-blown 3D multimedia platform that encompasses gaming, family entertainment, and even 3D photography.

When we reviewed the original version of Nvidia's 3D Vision, we were impressed with the quality, clarity, and depth of the 3D effects generated by the kit's active-shutter glasses while playing games. Since then, the 3D craze has gone mainstream, thanks in large part to James Cameron's mega-hit movie, Avatar. And thanks to the media and tech world's bandwagon-hopping search for the next big money-maker, you can now also enjoy 3D Blu-ray movies, take your own 3D photos, and watch 3D videos on the Web, in addition to the PC-gaming angle.

That's not to say it's gotten much cheaper to get fully outfitted for desktop 3D, however. You'll still need a premium-priced LCD monitor that's compatible with the kit (it needs to have a fast-enough refresh rate, which most mainstream monitors don't), as well as a graphics card that's capable of the extra demands of gaming in 3D. Unless you already own one or two of those pieces, the Nvidia 3D Vision hardware itself will likely be the least-expensive piece of the 3D puzzle.

Since this kit's initial release, Nvidia has updated its 3D glasses twice, and it has also significantly expanded its hardware support. So we thought it was time to take a fresh look at how Nvidia's 3D Vision looks in 2011. As it turns out, you now have two options for entering the 3D Vision world: wired, and wireless.

The Hardware

The pricier version of the Nvidia 3D Vision kit available here in mid-2011, and the one we tested, is called the 3D Vision Wireless Glasses Kit. It includes a pair of wireless active-shutter glasses, an infrared (IR) emitter that connects to your computer via a USB port and sends a signal to the glasses, and a charging cable. In March of 2011, Nvidia updated this wireless version of the 3D Vision kit with new glasses that, ostensibly, boost battery life from 40 to 60 hours between charges. (We couldn't exhaust them over the course of our testing.) At the same time, the company dropped the wireless kit's price by $50, to $149.

If you have friends who want to game or watch alongside you, however, the cost climbs quite quickly. Each additional set of wireless glasses runs another $119. You’ll also need an Nvidia graphics card based on a recent GeForce graphics processor (see how Nvidia ranks its recent graphics chips for use with 3D Vision) and a compatible display. (More on the displays below.)

The wireless 3D Vision glasses may look a bit bulky, but they felt comfortable enough for prolonged gaming and movie sessions.

The glasses work in conjunction with a 120Hz display to create a 60-frame-per-second 3D effect. Part of the reason the glasses are so pricey is that their lenses are actually little polarized LCD panels that alternate between being transparent and completely opaque. During 3D playback of your media, the monitor rapidly displays an image for the right eye, at which point the view through the glasses for your left eye is blocked. The process is then reversed for the left eye's image. (This happens many times a second.) The resulting 3D effect is extremely impressive, with more apparent depth than the passive glasses used for 3D in theaters. And because you see an effective 60Hz refresh (in other words, a full screen redraw 60 times every second), there’s no apparent flashing, jerkiness, or other issues compromising the smoothness of your game or video. Like the 3D movies you see in theaters nowadays, the resulting image is somewhat dimmer than typical 2D display output. We're happy to report, though, that despite the presence of built-in electronics, LCD lenses, and a battery, the 3D glasses don’t feel any heavier on your face than a pair of bulky sunglasses.

As noted earlier, the 3D Vision emitter in the wireless kit plugs into a USB port on your PC and sends the LCD on/off signals to the glasses via IR. The range of transmission ends at around 20 feet, and the emitter can support multiple pairs of glasses for watching movies or playing multiplayer games. At $119 a pair, however, we can’t see very many users picking up a set for everyone, say, in a family of five.

In June, Nvidia introduced a second model in the 3D Vision line, the Nvidia 3D Vision Wired Glasses. These $99 glasses function identically to the full-kit versions, but instead of using an IR emitter, they connect directly to your PC via a 10-foot USB cable. This is a better arrangement for LAN parties, where multiple IR emitters operating in the same space can interfere with each other. Also, they offer a less-expensive way to add 3D Vision support to your PC if you’re always going to be using the glasses at a desk or other fixed location.